Saving money on your wedding – Part 8
You’re engaged! Congratulations! Now it’s time to plan for the big day. The first thing you’ll need to do is figure out what kind of wedding you and your betrothed want to have. Prioritize! Make a list of what’s most important to the both of you. Is the location the most important thing or is it the number of people you are going to invite? Is the dress the most important aspect or is it the flowers? Once you have an idea about what is most important, you can decide how to allocate your budgeted amount.
Let’s say the dress is what you have dreamed of as the main event for your wedding. You can get the dress of your dreams and save money, too. Have your dress made by a seamstress rather than buying on in a bridal shop. Take a look at pattern books in sewing shops to find a dress that you love. Many times fabric shops will have a list of local seamstresses that specialize in bridal wear. Make sure you check their references and ask to see photos of their work. Protect yourself from unpleasant surprises.
Take a look at sales at the local bridal shop and at department stores. You can often find stunning dresses that may need minor repair or cleaning for a fraction of the cost of a perfect’ gown. Did you know that bridal shops have dresses that are last year’s model? You’d never know it was last year’s dress unless you were in the bridal business. You can get these dresses at huge savings.
Rather than have your wedding reception in a catering hall, check out other elegant options like local museums, historic homes, or maybe a friend’s fabulous yard. If you look around your neighborhood you might be pleasantly surprised at the inexpensive venues available to you.
Check out the local culinary schools for catering and for your wedding cake. There are some outstanding schools out there and they have students chomping at the bit to have events where they can shine! Often, culinary schools have lovely dining rooms, so you could ask about facility rental as well.
If you live in a city, check floral design schools for deals on doing your wedding flowers. As with the culinary schools, they have well-trained students passionate about their craft. If you live in a more rural area, or near one, check and see if there are local flower growers that will sell to you. You can do some lovely, casual flower arrangements and save serious money. With the money you save on floral decorations, you can get the professionally designed bouquet you always dreamed of.
Weddings can be a very stressful time as well as the most joyous time of your life. A little careful planning and imagination can save you the worry of overextending yourself financially. Think outside the box and have fun!
Tags: Seamstresses